Egypt reassembles in its original position the colossus of Ramses II at Ashmunein

Restoration and relocation operations of the monumental statue of Rameses II conducted by the joint Egyptian-American archaeological mission active at the site since 2023 have been concluded at Ashmunein in Egypt’s Minya governorate. The intervention allowed the colossus to be reassembled and reinstalled in its original position in front of the temple’s northern entrance, after the discovery of the upper part in February 2024.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the operation is part of the Egyptian state’s commitment to protect heritage according to international scientific standards. Fathy also stressed the value of cooperation with foreign missions and the project’s contribution to the historical and archaeological enhancement of sites in Minya province, with spillover effects on cultural tourism promotion strategies. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Hisham El-Leithy, on the other hand, highlighted the expertise of Egyptian workers involved in restoration, documentation and study activities, reiterating the adoption of up-to-date methodologies for the preservation of colossal statues and their transmission to future generations.

According to Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, the statue reaches a height of about 6.7 meters and a weight of more than 40 tons after restoration. Made of limestone, it is composed of four main elements: the body broken into two parts, the base formed by three large stone blocks, and the lower foundation devoid of decoration. The colossus is one of two specimens so far known from the northern area of the Ashmunein temple and depicts seated Ramses II. The mission, headed by Bassem Gehad for the Supreme Council of Antiquities and YvonaTrnka of the University of Colorado, is conducting systematic studies and excavations in the ancient city. The upper portion of the statue, about 3.7 meters long and weighing 12 tons, was buried under layers referable to later eras.

After the discovery, archaeological and technical analyses were carried out to verify the correspondence with the lower portion discovered in 1930, as well as the study of the decorated blocks of the base and foundation. The activities included complete digital documentation, assessment of the state of preservation, analysis of the loads and characteristics of the stone material, and treatment of the inclines in the foundations composed of five blocks. Having approved the plan by the Standing Commission on Egyptian Antiquities, work began in September 2025 with the dismantling of the inclined parts, consolidation and restoration of the blocks, then relocation according to the available scientific documentation.

Egypt reassembles in its original position the colossus of Ramses II at Ashmunein

The author of this article: Noemi Capoccia

Originaria di Lecce, classe 1995, ha conseguito la laurea presso l'Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara nel 2021. Le sue passioni sono l'arte antica e l'archeologia. Dal 2024 lavora in Finestre sull'Arte.

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